That is just so nice and unique! I have never seen anyone take that unique selling proposition or (Unique Selling Point).

What was the inspiration for that concept?

01-08-2008, 04:48 PM

I stressed over a name and concept for weeks,finally i decided what was wrong with todays lawn care business's and i decided the biggest thing was just good old work ethics and a lack of respect for our senior citizens.80% of all money in our towns is owned and spent by senior citizens and we give them the least time.I want to bring back the memories to our seniors when a deal was a deal and good work was the norm.I may not get rich catering to the elderly but im hoping my ways of doing business will spread and then my reputation will build!

Steve

01-08-2008, 04:51 PM

David,

That is fascinating! Is your community a senior community or would you say the number of seniors in your area is more or less average with that of the rest of the country?

I also just checked out your site! Very nice and I made you an avatar http://www.gophergraphics.com/forum/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

01-08-2008, 04:54 PM

pretty much the average but their are a few senior centers in town. Hey how do i get the banner for my site? I would like...Vintage Lawn Care "Service The Way It Used To Be" we cater to our senior citizens.

Steve

01-08-2008, 05:00 PM

Let me get your banner up here.

Steve

01-08-2008, 05:07 PM

I really like the marketing angle you have created.

I especially liked this ad you have on your site. Have you found a positive reaction to it?

How else do you promote this besides your site?

01-08-2008, 05:46 PM

how do i put the banner in my website?http://www.gophergraphics.com/forum/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

How did you go about designing that business card? Do you have a background in graphic arts because your card looks really nice!

01-08-2008, 09:08 PM

actually i designed the logo concept and a friend help me bring it to life,its going on my 8x 16 new enclosed trailer as we speak. It will be on both sides and the ramp door..they will be around 4'x8' feet logos. ill post pics when its done.now all i need is to get some accounts lined up.I got 10,000 post cards getting ready to go out and also 1,000 flyers going out this week end. http://www.gophergraphics.com/forum/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/newbie.gif

Steve

01-08-2008, 09:38 PM

Hi David,

I can't wait to see what it looks like! You really seemed to have hit the ground running with your business! Did you ever run a business before this? How did you come up with all of this planning?

It's amazing!

Andrew&#39;s Lawn Care

01-08-2008, 11:18 PM

What did you use to create your business card?

01-09-2008, 12:12 AM

Quote[/b] (Team Gopher @ Jan. 08 2008,10:38)]Hi David,

I can't wait to see what it looks like! You really seemed to have hit the ground running with your business! Did you ever run a business before this? How did you come up with all of this planning?

It's amazing!
No i was in auto sales for past 10 years...Thats nothing heres a list of everything that i have done since the first week of november..and all the truth...Told my boss i was done, made up my mind i was going to start my own business in lawn care.Bought a 2004 F250 FX4 superduty with 18k miles on it, bought a brand new Boss V 8.2 snow plow.Bought a new 8x 16 enclosed trailer with racks and ez track floor,everything will be like my logo in black.Bought a new walk behind salt spreader,bought a brand new 60"exmark lazer z with the triton deck.Bought a new t-242 shindaiwa trimmer,new shindaiwa HT2510 hedge trimmer,new echo pb755 back pack blower,misc tools,gas cans,wheel barrel,misc shovels and rake.Chose a company name,designed my logo"which is on the business card,had 1000 business cards made,got 10,000 local address's of single homes in my area.Got lables printed of those homes and designed my own post cards which are on the way to me now,bought gopher,got 17 contracts for snow clearing,just 2 so far for lawn care,one for 40$ a cut and one for 60${it's a start been giving most my time to snow accounts}Bought a new QUICK 36 ,got a sign made for my yard,had 30 shirts made,got graphics on my truck and soon trailer....ok im sure i missed a bunch but you get the point lol.!! Oh not to mention the countless hrs ive spent doing homework and trying to learn all i can! "NOW THATS BALLS TO THE WALLS"

01-09-2008, 12:19 AM

Quote[/b] (Andrew's Lawn Care @ Jan. 09 2008,12:18)]What did you use to create your business card?
MY card was done buy an outside source,i simply sent them my design.

Steve

01-09-2008, 12:13 PM

David,

That is an amazing story, in fact, you are living a dream of many many people. I bet there are many forum members now that wish they could just quit their full time job and run their own business.

Was there something in you that snapped that made you say you were done?

Do you have any advice for others thinking about doing the same thing you did?

Quote[/b] ]No i was in auto sales for past 10 years.
I bet this will help you a lot with sales in your new business.

LGYardService

01-09-2008, 04:48 PM

Quote[/b] ]Bought a new QUICK 36

How is the Quick? That is probably going to be my first larger walk behind so give me some feedback plz. lol Likes? Dislikes? Concerns?

And you must have had some money saved up to be able to buy all that equipment just on the start. Thats amazing! Keep up the nice work!

Quote[/b] (vintage @ Jan. 09 2008,1:19)]Quote[/b] (Andrew's Lawn Care @ Jan. 09 2008,12:18)]What did you use to create your business card?
MY card was done buy an outside source,i simply sent them my design.
Did you create your card yourself? If so what program did you use? Im looking at doing the same thing.

Steve

01-09-2008, 05:17 PM

Andrew,

Do you have something like photoshop? You can make your business cards with that. Try and get a 150 dpi to 300 dpi setting for it to look good when printed.

Andrew&#39;s Lawn Care

01-09-2008, 05:42 PM

Im afraid I don't have that program (photoshop). Is there any other program?

LGYardService

01-09-2008, 08:10 PM

Hey Steve,

Can I get a banner? I haven't got one yet and I was going to put it on my website. I'd really appreciate it.

James can you tell us the advantage / disadvantage to not having a name on the business card?

Steve

02-05-2008, 06:46 AM

Back of card

All Aspects Landscaping

02-05-2008, 02:55 PM

Well part of our bonus structure promotes our foreman to bid jobs and actually become salesman... this eliminates the need to have individual cards for everyone... plus we are growing quite rapidly, and I dont want everyone knowing I am the owner... People automatically assume that since I am the owner I can magically fix everything... billing issues (secretary's job)....on the job issues...ie...gates left open...(they do need to be handled, but I force my foreman to take responsibilities (cust calls the office to mention the gate issue... my secretary calls the foreman and not me)... and the big one is EVERY CUSTOMER WANTS MY CELL NUMBER!!!... It does help... ahh...plus i like the look of it with less lines on the card.

Steve

02-05-2008, 03:43 PM

Quote[/b] ]Well part of our bonus structure promotes our foreman to bid jobs and actually become salesman... this eliminates the need to have individual cards for everyone.

That is fascinating and I think a very smart move! So would this mean if your foreman is out on a job and the customer says they need a new retaining wall, your foreman can create a bid on the spot to do the job? Or how does that work? How are they trained to know how to bid?

All Aspects Landscaping

02-05-2008, 08:10 PM

In a situation like that, they would fill out an estimate request sheet in their daily route book with their name on it... my secretary sets up the estimate... upon recieving complete payment, he or she get their bonus... It ranges between 2 and 4% of the total job not including tax... so if its a $10,000 job, he can stand to make up to $400.00... not bad huh?? and its all factored in to the numbers of the estimate so it doesnt cost me a dime... the lawns, they get the amount of the first cut.

Steve

02-06-2008, 07:38 AM

So then they wouldn't actually create the estimate themselves then? How many people do you feel should be able to create estimates in a lawn care business?

Quote[/b] ] the lawns, they get the amount of the first cut.

Is this if the customer signs up for an annual contract?

Also do you find your staff looks for landscape projects they could provide the customer with? Say for instance, if a customer's sidewalk is falling apart, is your staff proactive enough to say to the customer, 'I can get you an estimate on replacing this sidewalk?' Or does your staff wait until they are approached by the customer for extra work?